noun
toothed whale; odontocete
Scientific term for the suborder Odontoceti, including dolphins, porpoises, and sperm whales. The cross-reference 鬚鯨 (ひげくじら, baleen whale) is the contrasting group.
See also: 鬚鯨
ハクジラにはイルカやマッコウクジラが含まれる。
Toothed whales include dolphins and sperm whales.
ハクジラはエコロケーションを使うことで知られている。
Toothed whales are known for using echolocation.
Baleen whale (Mysticeti), the other major whale suborder; lacks teeth and filters food with baleen plates.
Compound of 歯 (ha, 'tooth') + 鯨 (kujira, 'whale'), literally 'tooth whale'. The reading はくじら reflects rendaku voicing of くじら.